British Gas Assessment Centre

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Anybody done one of BG's half-day assessments at their centre in Leeds?

I've applied for the position of Smart Meter Installer and got through all the stages thus far. The assessment centre/interview is next Thursday and I'm preparing as much as I can.

It's mostly competency based, so requires the use of the STAR technique, but any insight from people that have done it would be helpful.

They want me to show in my answers I can cover their three core principles:

  • Do what's right
  • Love simplicity
  • Be extraordinary together
 
Haven't done it, but check out www.wikijob.com. They tend to have posts etc. on various assessment centres. I used it a lot when I was looking for information on legal/accountancy stuff.
 
You should probably read up on the Smart Meter Mandate, it is the legal requirement for the supply companies. Understanding the legal process they are bound by is an absolute minimum in my opinion.

I work in a highy regulated industry and I would always ask a candidate about what drives the business environment.
 
Ah my old job. I can't remember the assessment but it was pretty easy, I was one of the first trained in the country so it may have changed. All I will say is if you get a job try and sticking out the 3 years so you don't have to pay back any training then leave for another company doing the same thing.

I hated working for them, unrealistic targets and they suspended loads of people including myself for the most stupid things. Leaving them was the best thing I did!

You may like it though and it's a job so good luck.
 
Fiocca said:
Ah my old job. I can't remember the assessment but it was pretty easy, I was one of the first trained in the country so it may have changed. All I will say is if you get a job try and sticking out the 3 years so you don't have to pay back any training then leave for another company doing the same thing.

I hated working for them, unrealistic targets and they suspended loads of people including myself for the most stupid things. Leaving them was the best thing I did!

You may like it though and it's a job so good luck.
Click to expand...

So are you doing the same/similar thing now, only with a different company?

I saw a job vacancy for a smart meter fitter (non-BG) and the advertised salary was way below that of BG.

One of the questions I was thinking of asking them was where they see this role post-2020? If targets have been met and everyone has a smart meter, then they're not going to need as many fitters - so where does that put the position? I'd like to think a company as large as BG will have opportunities beyond the initial posting.

I have been reading the mandate and one thing struck me as slightly contradictory - so maybe I'm missing something and you can explain it?

Smart meters will be rolled out as standard across the country by 2020. But there will not be a legal obligation on individuals to have one.

Energy companies will be required to install smart meters and take all reasonable steps to reach everyone. However, we do not expect energy companies to take legal action to fit a smart meter if they cannot get the householder’s co-operation.
Click to expand...

If there's no legal obligation for a householder to have one, then what possible legal action could a company take to force them?

My research has led me to several videos (all US) about how smart meters are snooping on us, controlling our lives, making us ill and we must refuse to have them!
 
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What's contradictory about that? It just says that the energy companies are required to fit them, unless the home owner doesn't want one. It's a bit like water meters in older homes - the water company has to fit one if you want one.
 
It says we do not expect companies to take legal action (for customer 'non-compliance') which implies there is legislation that they could use to force people to have them. But the earlier sentence says there isn't.

To use your analogy - I don't have or want a water meter, but United Utilities want to fit one. To say they don't expect UU to take legal action against me for non co-operation (to force me to have one fitted) suggests, to me, there are legal avenues available to them. Which there aren't? Do you understand what I'm trying to get my head around? :o

I don't wish to sound argumentative, I just want to get this straight in my head now, before it's too late. ;)

I've actually been reading some disturbing reports of energy companies, BG included, telling customers they have no choice and legally they have to have them fitted.
 
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I left and went to my old job on 12k more on the railways so don't do it anymore.

I'm not sure what will happen after they're all fitted but the fitters also install normal electric and gas meters so it will probably just be doing them.

The pay when I was there was about 18k which was about 3-4k less than other companies but it may have changed. It's certainly not enough for the work you do. There were times I was on call and I had to drive 2 hours one way to do 5 mins work and you didn't get much for it. The on call payment was 15 quid if you didn't get called which I think is terrible, if I do on call in my job now it's 150 which shows how rubbish it is!
 
Thanks. Six weeks from redundancy to a job offer - not too bad in my mind.

It's just a case of waiting for them to complete the pre-employment checks, which should just be a formality. The start date is 1st June, so I'll have time to do a few things around the house, take a holiday (as none will be allowed after training starts), and prepare for 21 weeks away from home at the training academy. :eek:

I've got an interview with Royal Mail Wednesday and I think I'll still go to it. Just as a backup. At least I won't be so nervous as I already have a job in the bag. ;)

I just need to decide when to sign-off now; Probably best to wait until it's all in writing.
 
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Well done, in a year when you're out on your own you'll either love it or hate it with a passion! Plus be prepared to listen to that awful british gas advert music over and over again every day while trying to get through to the office!

To be fair they may have improved since i was doing it. We were the experimental engineers and for example i was put on call on my own at 2 in the morning without being trained on credit meters and the poor lady i went to had cancer and her meter was broken and i didn't know how to fix it. I did use my brain and did a temporary workaround but that's the kind of thing we had to put up with. I'm guessing they've learn't their lesson now as it's been a few years since!

Good luck though!
 
Thanks. It's both interesting and helpful to hear your tales. :)

Were you in long? They mentioned, again, about a five year 'bond' due to the cost of training. I didn't ask for her to expand on the matter as it's not something that would prevent me from accepting.
 
About 2 years. Our training was less than what you will do as like i said before we were the first batch and our training was inadequate so they lengthened it. I left just over 3 years ago and i'm still paying them back now, it was only a 3 year bond then!

If you can try and get on the warrant runs. I used to do them as much as possible as they were fun. You basically lob a stab proof vest on, go to peoples houses with a locksmith and the warrant officer and break into peoples houses and change their meters. Some of the places i went to were dodgy but it was good, even had to have a guy with an electric shield to keep a massive rottweiler away from us inside one place. Ended up firing a fire extinguisher at it to get it to back off!
 
They mentioned warrant runs during the assessment day and it's something that caught my attention. Initially with a, '?!?!?', and then a, 'Mmmm...' ;D

I got my access to the 'Gateway' today and am currently reading about Centrica's business principles. :cool:
 
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